Gems worth pondering
March 12
"None did search or seek after them." (Ezekiel 34:6)
"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
"He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death." (James 5:20)
Speak gently to the erring ones:
We yet may lead them back,
With holy words and tones of love
From misery's thorny track.
One night when storms were beating in full fury, a wreck was firing the minute guns, and a life boat was manned and sent out. Relay after relay rescued the whole crew but one; and the life boat was being manned for the last trip. One young fellow, John Holden, stepped in. "John, don't go," said his mother. "Your father is dead, your brother William is lost at sea, I have no one left but you. Surely you won't risk your life for only one?" But John went. Slowly the life boat disappeared amidst mountains of foam. After anxious suspense the boat returned. "Is the man saved?" was shouted from the shore. "Yes," rang back the voice of John, "and go and tell mother, it is William." (This story was found in my archives printed on a yellow stained sheet of paper - the author was not given)
N.J. Hiebert # 3641
March 13
"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
(Psalm 118:24)
"As thy days, so shall thy strength be."
(Deuteronomy 33:25)
One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.
One day at a time to be patient and strong,
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong,
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.
One day at a time - but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave and the soul is not strong.
O Thou pitiful Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.
Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave."
Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs as our mercies, are but for the day.
One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.
(Annie Johnson Flint)
N.J. Hiebert # 3642
March 14
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to His purpose."
(Romans 8:28)
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
It may not, perhaps, be so easy to see this when the pressure is upon us. When anxiously watching by the sick-bed of a beloved friend; or when treading the chamber of sorrow; or when laid on a bed of pain and languishing ourselves; or when overwhelmed by sudden tidings of the loss of our earthly all: under such circumstances it may not be so easy to see the glory of God maintained, and our blessing secured; but faith can see it for all that; and as for "blind unbelief," it is always "sure to err." (C.H. Macintosh)
N.J. Hiebert # 3643
March 15
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions. Others had trial of cruel mockings and
scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments."
(Hebrews 11:36)
Faith enables God's children to accomplish what may seem impossible. In this portion, we read that some did great things, while others endured great things. For both it was tier faith in God that allowed them to take one more step toward eventual victory. What will you put your faith in today, and where will it take you? (Saju Mathew)
N.J. Hiebert # 3644
